The Pot TV News for Monday, February 18, 2002

FEDS VS. S.F. ON POT“This is San Francisco,” said Mark Romero of CHAMP, who ran to the sceneafter hearing of the sweep. He stood with his arms crossed and repeatedlytore up the yellow tape surrounding the scene, much to the ire of the DEAofficers. “It’s a public sidewalk. Get out of my house,” he yelled.

S.F. PROTEST PHOTOS:Catch the action at the DEA protests held in San Francisco after the raidand arrest of the Harm Reduction Club staff.

FIRST LOOK AT THE DEA COMPLAINT:Over 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines for doing somethingthat was approved by the voters and confirmed by a jury.

Links:Photos and story of SF Protest:http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2002/02/116054.php

The case against Ken Hayes is a fraud. Just on the face of the evidence,already presented by the DEA, we know the following:

1. For the DEA to suggest that one person or one group oversees the supplyof cannabis to Bay Area Clubs is a complete fiction that hundreds of peoplein our movement can repudiate.

2. To accuse Ken Hayes of being an international smuggler with $900,000 inincome is absurd, unfounded and an insult to our intelligence, given thatKen was fully acquitted of any criminal wrongdoing less than a year earlier.Certainly, no one can question that the Sonoma D.A. and prosecutors went toextreme lengths to examine Ken’s financial dealings and any possibleevidence of wrongdoing. Are we now to believe that the DEA has uncoveredsuch massive evidence, when the Sonoma D.A. missed it?

3, The DEA, along with just about everyone in B.C., all know that it is theAsian gangs that are actually behind the B.C. to California smuggling. Goingafter Ken Hayes as smugglers can only be interpreted as a cynical attempt tocreate a bogus case of interstate commerce and international traffickingthat can then be used as an excuse to close the rest of the clubs.

4. Those of us who know Ken can attest to his dedication to helping sickpeople. Furthermore, we know Ken to be a modest person with simple tastesand modest personal expenses. Nothing about Ken suggests any criminal intentor unexplained wealth.

5. Ken Hayes and his family are broke. I personally know this to be true,because Michele and I we see first hand the devastating impact that this ishaving on Ken, Cheryl and their little daughter, Mattie.

Not only is the Hayes family broke, they are about to lose their rentedhome. On top of all this, Ken and his family are suddenly facing huge legalbills as he defends his U.S. case, while seeking political refugee statushere in Canada.